Unit 1: Justify the Use of Video Games in the Math Classroom
Learning Objectives
Unit 1 Overall Objective:
· The participant will be able to justify the use of video games in the math classroom.
Unit 1 Objectives:
· The participant will be able to give reasons for using video games in the math classroom.
· The participant will be able to explain how video games can address 21st century learning skills.
Your Task
There are students in your school that are not proficient in the end of the year state math exam. In addition, your principal is concerned about incorporating 21st century learning skills at the secondary level. You have been asked to decide if a math course that uses video games could address these problems.
Looks like you need to start researching!
Learning Activities
The first activity for you to do is to fill out a self-assessment.
Please download the document to your computer and fill in Questions 1 and 2. Save the document to your computer to use at the end of the unit. Here is the link to the file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2DHsGC6sUHna3F6RGgwT2NyZkU/view?usp=sharing
Video games can spark student interest in learning math!
Watch this video: https://www.ted.com/talks/gabe_zichermann_how_games_make_kids_smarter
Read this blog and watch the video: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/james-gee-video-game-project-based-learning
Video games can be used to teach, practice, and encourage interest in STEM subjects (Bertozzi, 2014, p. 23).
Read Chapter 1 in Learning, Education and Games: Volume one
21st century skills consist of learning and innovation skills, life and career skills, and digital literacy skills (Kulman, Slobuski, & Seitsinger, 2014, p. 161). "By using video games to teach skills such as collaboration and creativity teachers are able to provide students an opportunity not only to develop those skills, but also to increase their digital literacy skills" (Kulman, Slobuski, & Seitsinger, 2014, p. 162). Video games not only use technology, but they teach 21st century skills.
Read Chapter 9 in Learning, Education and Games: Volume one
Conclusion
Proceed to Unit 2: Identify and Assess Video Games in the Math Classroom
Click here to return to Using Video Games in the Math Classroom.
